Rotary attachment.



H. G. JOHNSTON.

ROTARY ATTACHMENT. APPLICATION FILED No.6. 1912.

MM. Patented. Apr. 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS- SHEET l. WMM

1 www,

H. G. JOHNSTON.

ROTARY ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 050.6, I9I2 Mmw. Patented Apr.. T3, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WVM 6.

Hoz nur HORACE JOHNSTON, OF CORSICN, TEXAS.

ROTARY ATTACHMEN'JR Lisanne.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dpr. 13, 1915.-.

Application filed December 6, 1912. Serial No. 735,297.

To all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known thatll, HORACE G. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Corsicana, in the county of Navarro and State of Texas, have invented certain new pipe when being raised to prevent such plpe from slipping back while the lifting tools are being lowered for such lifting.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ring positioned to surround the pipe and provided with 4a tapered bore largerthan the pipe, and tapered segmental serrated wedges disposed within the tapered bore of the ringl in position to engage the periphery of the pipe.

The invention also includes va ledge or shoulder integral or 'rigid with the wall of the bore in the rotary table or crosshead for supporting thering above mentioned, and means for preventing the ring from turning uponthe ledge under ordinary operating conditions.

With these and other "obJects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangement of liti parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

lin the drawings: Figure l is a top plan@ the tapered ring.V Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the segmental wedges.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The improved rotary attachment which forms the subject matter of this application is adapted to be used with rotary well drilling machines of practically any of the usual and ordinary types, and is here shown in conjunction with a rotary crosshead of the type shownin Patent No. 779,285 issued to' this applicant, January 3rd, 1905, but -it is to be understood that the type of'machin'e 1s whollylmmaterial to the present invention and is exhibited' only to show oper-j ative structure.` A table-shaped crosshead l0 of any approved type mounted to rotate and operate in the usual manner and also provided with clutching or gripping mechanism of any approved type, is provided with an upright opening 12 extending through its top and bottom, the wall of the opening being provided with an internal and inwardly extending ledge 11 through which a pipe 13 extends, such ledge being preferably interrupted or notched as at 14: to permit wide winged drills to be inserted therethrough. Dropped into said opening 12 and removable upwardly therefrom is a conical ring, such ring comprising a body portion 15 proportioned to be inserted through the opening 12, and a flange 16 around its upper end proportioned to -lit the opening 1'2 and rest upon the ledge 11 whereby the'ring is supported upon such ledge with the top of the flange 16 preferably though notl necessarily substantially flush with the top ofthe rotary table 10. The ring is `preferably provided with lugs 17 depending from the flange 16 and positioned to be inserted into the notches 14: to prevent the ring from rotating relatively to the table or remaining stationary Has the table is rotated in the usual manner. y

1t will be apparent especially from Fig. 2 that the interior of the ringis bored upon a taper with the lines converging at the bottom but leaving a space entirely around the pipe 13. nto this tapered opening between the ring and the pipe, is inserted a clutch comprising segmental wedge members 18 having their outer faces tapering downward and -their inner faces serrated to provide teeth or ribs 19 positioned to firmly engage the periphery of the pipe 13. lt will be apparent that when the pipe is lifted, by reason of the tapered formation of the Wedges and bore of the ring, no gripping action will occur and the pipe will be free to rise but when the pipe exhibits a tendency to drop the wedges 18 immediately drop into gripping position and prevent such movement. llt will, therefore, be apparent that the wedges can be lifted out of the ring whenever desired. This clutchingl or gripping device will be of great importance in drawing pipeL from the well as the pipe may be drawn to such height as to permit the'uncoupling of a section and the wedges 18 will automatically drop to grip the pipe and preventl its return While such uncoupling is being performed. To prevent the ring from being lifted out of the opening during such lifting action of the pipe buttons 20 are mounted upon the table, secured by bolts 21 which permit the buttons to be turned to the position shown at Fig. 3 for the removal of the ring when desired and to the position shown at Figs. 1 and 2 for the holding of such ring in position when the device is being operated.

I claim: A

1. The combination with a crosshead have ing an upright pipe opening, an inwardly extending ledge on the Wall of said opening below the top of the crosshead, and buttons pivoted on the latter and capable of being turned over the opening; of a ring'having a downwardly tapered bore, a flange around the ring adapted to rest upon said ledge when the upper end of the ring is flush with the top of the crosshead, and a series of segmental wedges having serrated inner faces and tapering outer faces adapted to fit within the bore of said ring, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with a crosshead having an upright pipe opening, an inwardly extending ledge on the wall of said opening having notches at intervals, and buttons on the crosshead capable of being turned over the opening; of a ring having a down- Wardlytapered bore, a flange around the ring adapted to rest upon said ledge when the upper end of the ring is Hush with the top of the crosshead, lugs depending from the flange and removably engaging said notches in the ledge, and a series of segmental wedges having serrated inner faces and tapering outer faces adapted to it within the bore of said ring, as and for thepurpose set forth. l

3. In an appliance of the class described, the combination of a crosshead, a clutch carried thereby and consisting of a conical ring loosely seated in the crosshead and removable upwardly therefrom, means on the crosshead for holding the ring seated, and wedge-shaped clutch elements disposed within the ring.

4. In an appliance'of the Aclass described, the combination of a crosshead having an opening provided with an open bottom and formed with an internal ledge, a conical ring loosely fitting in the opening and resting on the said ledge, devices mounted on the crossheadand engageable with the ring to hold the same in place, and wedge-shaped clutch elements disposed within the ring and removable upwardly therefrom.

In testimony whereof 1 alix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HORACE G. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

H. E. TnAYLoR, (1L. JnsTER. 

